Folding ironing table



March 31. 1925. 1,531,855

F. H. FRENCH FOLDING IRONING TABLE Filed March 23, 1922 Dzve/zZbz' EH. FRENCH Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

vireo s'rar T OFFIfiE.

FRANK H. FRENCH, OF PRESTON, IOWA.

FOLDING momma TABLE.

Application filed March 23, 1922. Serial No. 546,058.

To all whom it may concern:

vlegs and braces whereby the table may be adjusted altitudinally and yet be desirably rigid in use. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for adjustably connecting braces to an inclined leg to permit adjustment of the height of the table for use under varying conditions.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means to prevent accitable extended and in dental and undesired refolding of certain legs of the table during the operation of extending or folding the entire device. My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter. set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved portion of one brace being broken away. Figure 2 is a plan View of the table in folded condition, the major portion ,of the board 1 being broken away toreveal subjacenticonstruction. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the table in extended position, partly in section, portions of.'the legsbeing broken away to economize spacefother portions being broken away to reveal construction. Figure 4 is a bottom planof the table in folded condition, portions of certain braces being broken away. Figure a cross-section substantially-on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, the fabric cover being omitted. F igure 6 is a detail of certain adjustable securing means for the wire braces.

In the construction of the device as shown the numera1'10 designates a top orboard,

which preferably is of the approved construction, namely tapered at one end.- Suposition for use a, V p tudinal median line,

port rails 11, 12 are fixed to the lower surface of the board 10 and extend longitudinally thereof near the side margins and parallel to each other. A pair of legs 13, 14 are arranged near the broad end of the board 10,

and are pivotally connected to the boardin a special manner. A rod 15 extends transversely of the broad end of theboard, being carried by the end portions of the rails 11, 12. Two channel-shaped hinge members 16,

17 are provided, each opening outwardlytoward side margins of the board, and said hinge members are pivoted on and ad acent the respective ends of the rod 15. A block 18 preferably is mounted onthe rod 15 within each hinge member, one of which is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The legs 13, 11. extend at their upper ends within the channelshaped hinge members 16, 17 respectivelyand are pivoted therein and thereto by means of bolts 19 tudinally of'the board, and at right angles to the axis of hinging of the members 16, 17 thereto. The legs 13, 14- are beveled or tapered at their upper ends and on their inner faces toward the median line'of the board, as shown in Figure '3, such beveled faces permitting lateral oscillation of the legs on the pivots 19 and limiting such oscillation by contact withthe closed faces of the hinge members 16, 17. Thus a limited spreading of the legs 13, 14 laterally is permitted, insuring stability of the device in use. An angle iron bracket 20 'is fixed to and projects downwardly from the board 10 near its broad end and on its longithrough and is...braced by said bracket. Inl'ned braces 21 2.122 are pivoted at their upfends to the bracket 20 by a bolt 23, diverge and are secured near their opposite ends to the inner faces of the legs 13, 14 respectively, near the lower ends of said legs. The pivot 23 of the braces is in a horizontal plane materially lower than the rod and the rod 15 passes extending in a direction longi- I 15, so that when said legs are moved to their extended position-said braces exert .1

an outwardthrust on the lower end portions of the legs,

spreadingthe legs at their lower ends as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, thev legs oscillating on the pivots 19, and their beveled upper ends coming to rest against I the closed sides of the hinge members 16,17. A cross-bar or plate 24 extends transversely of the broad end of the board and is secured to the outer faces of the hinge members 16,

, 41, which is the cross-bar which brace is formed formed with loops 42,

17, by the bolts 19 and other bolts 25. A second rod 26 is arranged transversely of the under side of the board 10 and carried by the rails 11, 12, at a considerable distance from the rod 15, and said rod 26 is also supported at its center by an angle iron bracket 27 fixed to and extending downwardly from the board 10. An inclined leg 28 is provided and is arranged on the central longitudinal line of the board 10 and pivoted at its upper end on the rod 26. The leg 28 preferably is slotted or kerfed at its upper end to straddle the bracket-27, thus insuring stability and preventing laterahmovement of the upper end of said leg. The leg 28 as here shown is of single construction. Inclined braces 30, 31 are arranged on opposite sides of the leg 28, fixed rigidly at their lower ends to an intermediate portion of said leg, diverge and are pivoted at their upper ends on end portions of the rod 26. 1

A' substantially V-shaped leg support for the inclined leg 28 is provided and is composed of two members 32, 33 pivoted by bolts 34 to the rails 11, 12 respectively, at a considerable distance from the rod. 26 and on the opposite side thereof from the rod 15. The supports 32, 33 converge toward their lower ends, which are spaced apart suficiently to receive the inclined leg 28, and are held rigidly in such relative position by a cross-bar 35, spaced somewhat above their lower ends. SIhe inclined leg 28 is formed, intermediate of its ends, with a series of notches 36 inwitsnpper face adapted to receive selectively a pin 37 carried by and connecting the support members 32, 33'and arranged parallel with and slightly beneath 35. A keeper 38 is secured to the upper face of the inclined leg 28 and is slightly spaced from and covers the notched portion of said leg. It is the function of the keeper 38 to prevent theadjustable inclined leg 28 from falling away from the support 32-33, by engagement with the pin 3'], which pin, by selective engagemenbwiththe notches 36, permits adjustment of the inclination of the leg tion. A folding wire brace als 's provided from the-incliifiddeg28 to the legs 13, 14,

I of three members indicated by the numerals 39, 40, 41. -The end members 39, 40 are relatively short and are connected at one end to lower ends of the braces 21, 22, which are extended for this purpose below the points of attachment to the legs 13, 14, and apertured. At their opposite ends the brace members 39, 40 are p 43 respectively, en gaging relatively long loops 44, formed in the respective ends of the center brace member bent to substantially V-sliape. In its-lower portion the adjustable inclined leg 28 is formed with a series of upwardly opening notches 45, corresponding in num- 28 in its extended p sil/ her .and spacing with the notches 36. he central portion of the center member 41 of the wire brace is adapted to be engaged se lectively in the notches 45 and is held therein by means of a keeper bar 46 pivoted at 47' log 28 and adapted to overlie said notches. its free end with aside opening notch 48 (see Figure 6) adapted to engage a retaining member 49 mounted in said leg. retaining member 49 may be the screw-eye supporting a hook 50,v which may be employed'for latching the free end- 28 tothe under side of the board 10 by engagement with an eye 51 carried thereby.

lhe selective location of the pin 37 in the notches 3G and the wire brace member 41 inthe notches 45 determines of the board, which is sequently the height as to be in horizontal always so arranged position regardless of such adjustment. will be noted that as the pin 37 is adjusted downwardly, for instance, in the notches 36, the wirebrace 41 will be adjusted upwardly in the notches 45; and steadies and supports while the wirebraces steady the legs 13, 14 andholdthem firmly in position and provide the desirable the outward spreading of the legs 13, 14 tends toward stability by providing awider 'base.

VVhen it is desired to shift the location of the wire brace member 41 in the notches 45, the retaining member 49 is loosened and the keeper bar 46 swung through an arc to permit adjustment as gaging loops ofthe several members of the wire brace permit flexing at different points,

The keeper bar 46 is formed near The 1 the degree of inclination of the adjustable. leg 28, and constability for the board. Also.

of the leg 'I the support 3233 I the inclined leg 28,

desir edT"Tlieinterenwhen the device is folded, to compensate for differences of notches 45.

A safety support brace 52 is pivoted at one end to an intermediate point on the adjustable leg 28, near its upper end, and the op- "p'osite en id neans of a chain 53 or other flexible memher from the board 10. It is the function of the safetysupport brace 52,'during the operation of folding or extending the device, to prevent undesirable movement of the legs 13, 14 through an arc toward the board, by engagement of its free end with the inner face of the cross-member 24. The folding or extending operation is usually accompa nied by or includes a movement which places the board 10 on itsend on the floor, in which position the free end of the brace 52 drops upon the crossmember 24 or against the lower surface of the board 10 and maintains the relative positions bf the leg 28 and legs 13, 14 until they are purposely moved to the desired position. j

The board 10 preferably is formed with a adjustment in the aee is-sus ended hy peripheral groove 54. An annular holding device is formed of a Wire 55 and coil spring 56 interconnected, and when a fabric cover such as 57 is laid upon the board and the annular holding device mounted around the edges thereof and within the groove 54, it holds said cover yieldingly in place and the covermay be readily removed and replaced upon occasion.

I claim as my invention 1. An adjustable folding ironing table, comprising a board, spaced rails extending longitudinally of the under surface of said board, a rod extending through said rails near oneend of the board, a pair of legs pivoted on said rod, a second transverse pivot carried by said rails at a distance from said rod, an inclined leg pivoted at its upper end on said second pivot, leg supports pivoted to said rails at a distance from said second pivotand spaced apart at their lower ends to receive said inclined leg, a transverse pin connecting the lower ends of said leg supports, said inclined leg being formed with a series of notches intermediate of its ends adapted forselective engagement by said pin, and jointed wire braces secured to the pair of legs, said inclined leg being formed near its lower end with a series of notches adapted for selective engagement by said wire braces. I

2. An adjustable folding ironing table, comprising a board, spaced rails on the under surface of said board, a rod extending through said rails near one end of the board, a pair of outwardly opening channeled hinge members pivoted on said rod, legs pivoted in said hinge members on axes longitudinally of the board and spaced below said rod, a bracketfixed to and projecting downwardly from said board forwardly of said transverse rod, braces secured to said legs and pivoted at their upper ends on said bracket at a point spaced below the surface of said board, said legs being tapered at their upper ends to permit lateral oscillation of the logs on their pivotal connections to said hinge members, and means for supporting the op posite end of said board.

3. An adjustable folding ironing table, comprising a board, a'pair of legs pivoted at one end of said board, a cross-member connecting the upper ends of said legs, an inclined leg pivoted to and intermediate the ends of said board, adjustable brace connections between the pair of legs and the lower portion of said inclined leg, and a safety support brace pivoted to the upper portion of said inclined leg and suspended from said board, the free end of said safety support ,race being adapted for engagement. with said cross-memberattimes to prevent undesirable relative movement of said inclined leg and pair of legs.

Signed at Preston, in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa, this 17th day of Febr1 ar 1922.

1 y FRANK H. FRENCH 

